Our countries have developed a form of agriculture known as conventional farming. This type of agriculture favors the cultivation of single crops using fertilizers and pesticides, often at the expense of natural plant health. I do not subscribe to this approach. There are opportunities to produce healthier and better wine.
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that aims to improve and restore the health of ecosystems. It focuses on enhancing soil health, increasing biodiversity, and improving water cycles, which in turn can lead to more resilient and productive agricultural systems.
To preserve the soils of my vineyards, I have stopped all ploughing, a practice now considered intrusive and harmful to underground life. Active microbe life in my soils can only be preserved and propagated if left unploughed. The more the rows between the vines are worked over, the more the soil structure is destroyed, disrupting biological activity and reducing its fertility. Intensive farming also negatively impacts the fragile earthworm population, which is so important to the soil’s ecosystem.
Vegetative cover
I believe in growing my vines in living soils, which requires permanent vegetative cover. This serves various roles: preventing weeds from growing and the soil from drying out, reducing the heat of the summer sun within each plot, and aiding the absorption of rainwater into the soil.
This vegetative cover also prevents the erosion to which bare soils are subjected. Living soils are stable and do not suffer from erosion. I also use green fertilisers; faba beans and clover enrich the soil with nitrogen.
Minimal Soil Disturbance: Practices like no-till minimize soil disturbance, helping to maintain soil structure, prevent erosion, and protect beneficial microorganisms.
Cover Cropping: Growing cover crops helps protect the soil from erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil fertility by adding organic matter.
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming, these thoughts are only part of it.